Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Scott Nicholson

Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Scott Nicholson

By Global Ministries (Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ) on June 28, 2017

Scott Nicholson, Long Term Volunteer serving at the U.S.-Mexican Border

July 1958 - June 2017

It was with deep sadness that Global Ministries received the news of the death of our colleague and brother in Christ, Scott Nicholson. Scott was a member of the University Congregational, United Church of Christ, Missoula, Montana.

Scott was born on July 11, 1958. He received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from California State University, a Master of Arts in business administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Master of Arts in social work from Eastern Washington University. Scott served in several justice-promoting roles before serving with Global Ministries, including working with the Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua, the Community Action for Justice in the Americas, the Montana Human Rights Network, and the Christian Peacemakers Team.

Scott was assigned as a Global Ministries Long Term Volunteer to serve at the Community Center of the Home of Hope and Peace (HEPAC), Nogales, Sonora, Mexico working with issues related to the U.S./Mexico border and the flourishing of life in Mexico. His service consisted in providing food and primary education to the children of uprooted people that arrive in Nogales on their quest to cross the border. Also, he collaborated on efforts to interpret the reality of migration to international and U.S. visitors to the Center. Of his time with HEPAC, Scott shared, “As a U.S. citizen, I feel a responsibility to educate people about these abuses and to accompany individuals and groups that are struggling for justice. I feel very blessed to be a member of HEPAC and to support their inspiring work to create a grassroots model of a more just society.”

Previously, Scott Nicholson served as a Global Ministries Short Term Volunteer working with Social Organizations of Arauca in Colombia, as a consultant in the administration of productive projects in rural communities. In this capacity, he walked alongside partners addressing issues of social and ecological justice. His commitment with Latin America and the Caribbean goes back to other experiences, aiding in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras, adding up to twenty-five years of solidarity and presence throughout the continent.

A friend recently shared that, “there have always been people like Scott on the planet, and they have always been rare. He walked the talk in a way that inspired those who knew him. We could not match Scott, but he helped make us better people… Scott was brave. Not only was he brave in how he [was present in the life of] other people out in the desert crossing the US-Mexican Borderlands. But, before that, he accompanied communities in Colombia, and before that in El Salvador. It is really extraordinary, what he did consistently since the 1980s. Scott was brave also in how he was willing to share his feelings. I saw him angry in the face of injustice, I saw him cry when he felt sad, I saw him smile when he was happy.”

Messages of condolence may be sent to Scott’s sister and father, Debbie, and Robert, through the Latin America and Caribbean Office at Global Ministries, P.O Box 1986 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206, or by email to arivera@dom.disciples.org. Reverend Angel Luis Rivera-Agosto, Area Executive, will deliver them to the family.